Yarn Along 5/30/2012

Hello all! Linking up with Ginny again :)
~Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Taken from Ginny's blog

Hello all--thanks for stopping by. As the weather starts to heat up and Memorial Day came and went quietly in my home it all brings with time for reflection- to think about the troops that are defending our country and those that paid the ultimate price for keeping us free.  This week I picked up Gettyburg by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen. Last year I dived into To Try Men's Souls and Valley Forge.  Both were wonderful Alternative History reads. Did you know that there was a term for such fiction..I didn't until a very nice gentleman mentioned it to me at Barnes and Noble this past week.  I will be honest with you. It is a tough read--I have to re-read and go to my shelf  heavy with Civil War books and Maps to understand who is fighting and what is going on. Seeing images of actual people listed in a fictional book tends to blur what is the truth about the Battle of Gettysburg. You can imagine as you turn the pages of this book, that these are the conversations or thoughts of some of the men the days before the Battle. Sorry, I do tend to go on sometimes, especially about the Civil War....

My knitting this week has been about finishing projects and casting on small ones. It feels so wonderful and so carefree to set some projects aside(for now) or finish up some or cast on small ones that bring me so much joy. With the end of the school year looming large on our horizon and some other major changes for our home in Maryland it sure is nice not to knit on my lace scarf--at least for right now. I am sure I will need the distraction in the coming weeks.

I was inspired to cast on a certain whale thanks in large part to seeing Ginny and Silas whale. I wasn't able to dye my own woolies but I did manage to use some wool from my stash and I am very pleased with how ours knit up.

After "he" was completed, I was mesmerized at the thought of using the Magic Loop method to knit up a seamless toy- it was instant gratification! Having all the wool left over from the whale, I cast on a dolphin. Since it wasn't the weight called for, I believe it turned out smaller than the pattern stated but I am okay with the outcome and so were my boys. Besides, it did make it easier for tiny hands to hold. The best part is that both were finished in less than 24 hours- which means that my boys each got to hold one in time for bed.

I finished up the Lyalya  hoodie and I am really happy with it.  I really thought I was knitting it wrong but thanks to many Ravelers I was able to use their projects and notes. I couldn't have knit it without all those wonderful notes! I did think the finished knit would be bigger than anticipated--gauge on tiny hats isn't something I normally check.I am happy to report it doesn't fit my 4 year old (which is a very good thing--as it was cast on for infant sizing). My thought is that since it wasn't knit for anyone in particular it would fit the right person someday....I do hope I am able to cast on another one soon. I have never "Kitchener Stitched" so many stitches off the needles at once!

I did cast on a LTK Pilot's Cap yesterday evening. It has been on my To Knit List for ages. Do you have a list? I would love to know what is on it.  I am using some Lions Brand wool I have in my stash for ages--yeah for stash busting! I love the shaping- LTK patterns are always so cleverly constructed! And can be knit quickly. I am making the tiniest size just to see how it knits up and hopefully I will have a darling baby gift I can pass on in the future.

What are you reading and what are working on? I can't wait to catch up with everyone!